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Bangkok under state of emergency Bangkok under state of emergency
(about 1 hour later)
Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas, a day after protests cancelled a major Asian summit.Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas, a day after protests cancelled a major Asian summit.
The announcement came as a group anti-government protesters broke into the interior ministry. The announcement came as hundreds of protesters stormed the interior ministry. Reports said PM Abhisit Vejjajiva had escaped by car.
Soldiers fired warning shots into the air to deter protesters, but made no attempt to stop them. One report said PM Abhisit Vejjajiva escaped by car. Soldiers fired warning shots to deter the red-shirted protesters, but made no attempt to stop them.
The leader of the protests was arrested after the PM vowed to prosecute them.The leader of the protests was arrested after the PM vowed to prosecute them.
Demonstrators loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been calling for Mr Abhisit's resignation. Arisman Pongruengrong, who spearheaded the protests by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was arrested after returning to Bangkok on Sunday.
Protest leader Arisman Pongruengrong was arrested after returning to his home in Bangkok on Sunday. Anti-government protesters have been blocking access to key government offices in the capital for the past week, and have vowed to keep up the pressure until Mr Abhisit resigns.
A police spokesman said he was co-operating with the authorities. Strong measures
"There will be further arrests, but right now the police are gathering evidence," the spokesman added. The collapse of the summit was a huge embarrassment to Mr Abhisit and he has promised strong measures to restore order, the BBC's Jonathan Head says in Bangkok.
PM Abhisit says the emergency is meant to restore orderPM Abhisit says the emergency is meant to restore order
Correspondents say the storming of the Pattaya conference centre was deeply embarrassing for Mr Abhisit. The first was to announce a state of emergency, which was broadcast repeatedly on all Thai TV channels.
There was little resistance from the security forces. "The government has tried all along to avoid violence but the protest has developed and they have used actions incompatible with the constitution," he said in a televised speech.
The tactics of the pro-Thaksin activists mirror those of their royalist rivals last year: they too paralysed government activity by targeting key venues. "Now the government is unable to avoid this state of emergency," he added.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there is no question the pro-Thaksin protesters broke the law. Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people can be banned, media reports can be censored, and the army can be deployed to to help police maintain order.
But, our correspondent adds, the problem is that Mr Abhisit rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and the PM may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him. Last year, the government imposed a state of emergency on several occasions, but the army refused to enact the measures.
'We have won' It is unclear if the army will be prepared to take action this time around.
"The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Mr Abhisit said on TV on Sunday. The state of emergency was last used to crack down on yellow-shirted protesters who had laid siege to Bangkok's airports last November.
The crisis eventually led to Mr Abhisit's government taking over from allies of Thaksin.
Our correspondent in Bangkok says the problem for PM Abhisit is that rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him.
Arisman is said to be co-operating with the authoritiesArisman is said to be co-operating with the authorities
"The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias."
Another protest leader, Jakrapob Penkair, said in Bangkok that the movement against Mr Abhisit had won a victory.
"We have won, we have stopped them from holding a summit," he said.
"But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."
Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.
Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.
"I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday. "I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday. "In the next few days we will see real change."
"In the next few days we will see real change."
Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.
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